Improvement in ankle-supporters



J. G. PUGSLEY. Ankle-SupportersA Patented June 3,1879.

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u PETiRS` PHOTO-LITHoGRAPl-IER. WASHINGTON. D CA UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN G. PUGSLEY, OF BROOKLYN, E. D., NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO HIMSELF AND JOHN ENNIS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEM ENT IN ANKLE-SUPPORTERS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,106, dated J une 3, 1879 application filed April 4, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. PUGSLEY, of Brooklyn, E. D., in the county of Kings and State of New York, have in vented an Improvement in AnkleSupporters, of which the following is a specification.

In Letters Iatent No. 212,261, granted to me, an ankle-supporter is shown in which the stil-t' material, such as leather or felt, comes up at each side ot' the ankle, and there is a vertical opening at the rear upper portion, but the heel portion is closed.

My present invention is an improvement upon the former device. In said patented anklc-simporter it often becomes necessary for the wearer to obtain a longer shoe, in consequence of the space occupied by the ankle-supporter at the heel. I find that the heel portion of the ankle-supporter can be removed without injury, because the sides of the supporter, when connected at the rear, strength en the ankle, and hence that my improved sup porter can be usually worn in the ordinary shoe of the person using the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of said ankle-supporter, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe same.

The supporter is made of leather, felt, cloth, or other suitable material, stiiiened with glue, varnish, or equivalent material, and of the thicln'less necessary to obtain the required strength and stiffness, and it is usually pref'- erable to line the supporter with flannel or stoekinet.

The side portions a a are of a size and shape adapted to iit the' sides of the foot and the ankle, the same being molded to shape, so as to be comfortable to the wearer. These sides are in one, extending around the back, so that the portion b unites the sides slightly above the ankle-joint, and the portion c, that extends beneath the heel, becomes a connection between the sides a a.

By this construction the heel portion of the ankle-support is left open hence there is nothin g to increase the length of the foot and render a change of shoe necessary, and this is accomplished without detriment to the snpporting qualities of the appliance.

The lining may be applied only to the inside of the stitt'supporter, but I prefer to ex' tend the same across the heel portion, asseen at c, because the same is thin, and occupies but little space, and becomes a protection against wear upon the stocking.

The rigid portion of the supporter is perforated, as seen at i, to allow for the escape of perspiration.

I claim as my invention- 1. The ankle-supporter consisting` of the two portions a a, that extend at each side of the ankle. and are connected at the back above the anklel at b, and also beneath the heel at c, substantially as set forth.

2. An ankle-supporter having pieces c beneath the heel and sides a that are connected at the back, and in which the rear of the heel portion is open, for the purposes set forth.

3. In an ankle-supporter of rigid material, having sides that are connected at the upper back portion and across beneath the heel, the lining of flexible material extending across the opening at the rear of the heel,- substantially as set forth. Q

Signed by me this 1st day of April, A. D.

J. G. PUGSLEY.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, WILLIAM G. Morir. 

